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The holiday season is a busy season for us all. In between work and family obligations, we all must juggle the additional holiday fun, including the parties, the shopping, the events and the family functions.
While we are all scrambling to finish our last bit of holiday preparation, in lieu of a normal marketing and technology post, today we are sharing how technology has helped changed our holidays.
Remember the days when you had to go to the stores to purchase every gift? Before the days of Amazon and overnight shipping, the holidays were a much busier time because we all had to squeeze in time for shopping. Now instead of searching for a parking spot at the mall and deciding on a time to meet back up (no cell phones for texting), we are all free to shop from the comforts of our laptops. E-commerce is one technology trend that has made shopping for holiday gifts more convenient for everyone.
2. Social Media Holiday Cards
A smaller evolution has been the decrease of holiday cards and letters. No longer do we have to wait once a year to update our friends and family on the updates in our family. Instead all you need to do is pop onto Facebook or Instagram and instantly see how much your college roommate’s child has grown, wedding photos from your former neighbor or graduation photos of your nephew. Social media has slowed down the influx of mail around the holidays but we do admit that it is still fun to get snail mail this time of year!
3. Evites
It’s never been easier to throw a New Year’s Eve bash. Before email and electronic invitation sites, to throw a party during the holiday season meant planning it early, getting invitations in the mail, answering RSVPs by phone and organizing everything through word of mouth, mail or over the phone. Now you can easily invite the entire office, neighborhood or extended family to your soiree with a simple clicks on your keyboard.
4. Santa tracker
Perhaps the most fun technological advancement for the holiday season has been the ease it is to reach Santa Clause. Instead of slipping handwritten letters into the mailbox and watching the night sky for a glimpse of a reindeer, children and adults are now able to email Santa on his website and track him via the NORAD Santa Tracker on Christmas eve.
5. Video Phone Calls
Our final way technology changed the holidays might be the best one of all. Families from all over can now gather together the holiday season and be with one another, even if it is through a computer screen or iPhone. Thanks to the growth of video messaging apps like Skype, the invention of FaceTime calls with Apple, grandparents are able to watch their grandchildren open presents, service members can send their loved ones a holiday greeting and families and friends are united to celebrate the holidays together, virtually, that is.
What is your favorite piece of technology that changed the holidays?
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
